The village of Sal-Dimi had two wells, both traditional, meaning they have been dug and maintained by hand.  About every two years, the logs supporting the opening had to be replaced by new trees, which are becoming more and more scarce as the Dogon Plateau is deforested.  During the rainy season, when the water is high, it erodes the mud and clay walls of the wells, leading to frequent collapses, which can be dangerous.  Each year the villagers had to repair, restabilize, and rebuild the openings to both wells.  They asked Tandana for help to permanently stabilize their wells, and we hired a local contractor to reinforce both wells with cement walls and create a raised opening for cleanliness.  On the day that we announced that the first well would be restored, the village elders were covering the well with thorny branches because a collapse had made it too dangerous to approach and draw water.  The villagers were thrilled with the news that it would be improved, and quickly mobilized the sand and gravel that would be needed for the reconstruction work.  They also contributed the labor to assist the skilled masons, and several of the elders were so excited that they donated sheep to be roasted and feed all those who were working on the project.  The second well has now also been stabilized and is safe to use.

Below are photos of one of the wells before, during, and after reconstruction.